In December, Members voted in favour of modernising the Island’s electoral system, in a move which would see the Senators removed from office and 37 Deputies elected from nine large districts, each of which would return between three and five representatives.
Under the reform package, the 12 parish Constables would retain their right to sit in the Assembly, meaning 49 Members would be elected in total
The Privileges and Procedures Committee, which lodged the proposals, have now tabled draft laws which, if approved, would enact the changes, as well as postpone the next election until June 2022.
The report accompanying their proposition says that the postponement proposal was prompted by public feedback.
‘The elections in 2018 were the first to be held in the spring,’ it says. ‘The committee has listened to feedback from the public and parishes regarding the suitability of mid-May as our general-election day. The impact of Easter, the May Bank Holiday and, of course, Liberation Day made the election period particularly difficult in 2018 on a practical level, and the committee suggests that a shift to June will not only provide for an uninterrupted five-week run between nomination night and election day but will allow for there to be a discreet proroguing period [suspension of parliament], as agreed by this Assembly.’
It adds: ‘In the future, we propose that the date of the election will be brought forward by PPC for consideration by the Assembly a year beforehand.’
The report says that a further tranche of legislation will be tabled at a later date on related matters, such as introducing an independent electoral boundaries commission in Jersey.
The proposition is due to be debated on 20 April.
